Recognition: Large; upperside is black with orange tips (not
patch like the similar California Sister) and broken white band
extending down wings; underside is red-brown with white band and
markings.

Flight period: They are active from April to October.

Hostplants: Hostplants include Salicaceae trees such as Populus species (quaking aspen and cottonwoods), and Willows (Salix species); also some Rosaceae, like wild cherry (Prunus
species) and some orchard trees. Adults like such flowers as California
buckeye, yerba santa, privet, and may even be seen on animal feces.

Habitat: Red Admirals can grace the suburban yard, and are found
in a variety of other habitats including open fields, scrubby areas,
and foothills.

Distribution: Common and widespread throughout most of North
America, but is only a seasonal colonist of areas where it cannot
survive winters. Quite common in southern California and is recorded on
Santa Cruz Island.

Other: In suburban yards, males will sometimes 'claim' territories, returning to the same area repeatedly for weeks.

Vanessa cardui - Painted Lady

upperside

underside

Size:wingspread 1.8-2.5 in.

Recognition: Black and orange with red spot in mid-leading edge
of FW, also has more extensive black coloring near body than other
ladies; HW has black spot row along bottom edge; eyespots of underside
of HW small.

Flight period: Flies on the deserts all year, and from spring until fall in coastal and mountain areas.

Hostplants: Larvae may feed on an unusual variety of plants, from several families, including mallows (Malva), lupines (Lupinus), thistles (Cirsium), and nettles (Urtica).

Habitat: Many and most habitats, from urban parks, lots, fields and grassland, into montane and desert habitats.

Distribution: Throughout North America (excluding extreme
northern areas) and into Central America. There is an active population
on Santa Cruz Island.

Other: Following years with good winter rains in the deserts, they will sometimes migrate north by the millions in the spring.

Vanessa virginiensis - American Lady

upperside

underside

Size: wingspread 1.75-2.25 in.

Recognition: FWs are orange and black with white marking on
mid-leading edges and small white dot on orange coloring in FW; HW has
semi-connected row of dark spots along bottom edge; underside HW has
large eyespots on brownish green coloring.

Flight period: Adults fly all year in southern California and April through November elsewhere in their range.

Hostplants: Everlastings and pussytoes (both Asteraceae) are the most common larval foodplants.

Habitat: Variety of habitats which include foothills, open and
scrubby areas, lowlands, meadows, fields, roadsides, and suburban
settings.

Distribution: Found throughout the U.S., Mexico and southeastern Canada.

Vanessa annabella - West Coast Lady

upperside

underside

Size:wingspread 1.5-1.8 in.

Recognition: Tip of FW is flat (squared) rather than curved (rounded) like that on V. cardui;
orange marking in mid-leading FW, not white like other Painted and
American Ladies; row of spots on bottom HW have distinct blue center.

Flight period: Flies all year, but is common from February to November.

Hostplants: Larvae feed on plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae), including Malva, Sphaeralcea, and Sidalcea.

Distribution: Along the West coast, from British Columbia into
Mexico, but rare in deserts, it prefers lowlands. There is a permanent
population on Santa Cruz Island.

Junonia coenia - Common Buckeye

upperside

underside

Size:wingspread 1.5-2.25 in.

Recognition: At first glance it could appear a little boring,
but one good look at this Buckeye reveals it to be anything but common;
stunning purple and pink eyepots stand out on margins of FW and HW; two
small orange/red bands are clearly marked on leading FW edges.

Flight period: All year in southern California, and March to November in more northern locales.

Habitat: Common in a variety of natural and semiurban habitats,
including grasslands, chaparral, old fields and roadsides; very common
along our sunny, foothill trails.

Distribution: The Common Buckeye ranges over most of the southern U.S. and Mexico.

Other: As with many other butterflies, including the Monarch,
the Common Buckeye expands its range northward in warmer months,
retreating to the south in the fall. In the field, Buckeyes sun
themselves with their wings open, giving an observer a perfect view of
their unique coloring.

Flight period: Monarchs may be seen at any time of year in our
area; inland populations are depleted in late fall and winter by
coastward migration.

Hostplants: Refered to as the "milkweed butterflies." Larvae of
all Monarch and the closely related Queen butterflies feed exclusively
on milkweed (Asclepias and relatives), which makes them poisonous to predators.

Habitat: They are found in a huge range of settings, including
urban areas, grassland, oak woodland, though rarely seen in deserts;
overwintering sites are mostly located in coastal eucalyptus groves.

Distribution: Found throughout most of North America, including Mexico and southern Canada.

Other: Santa Barbara is lucky enough to be a major overwintering
site for Monarchs. Starting in late fall, when temperatures begin to
drop, the butterflies descend in huge numbers upon Santa Barbara, in
the tens of thousands at places such as Goleta's Ellwood Grove.

Danaus gilippus - Queen

upperside

underside

Size: wingspread 2.75-3.5 in.

Recognition: Upperside orange/brown with black and white
speckled border, and the FWs have scattered white spots; underside of
HW with darkened veins

Flight period: Adults active from April to November; more likely to be seen here in later part of season.

Hostplants: Like the Monarch, the larvae of the Queen feed only on milkweeds (Asclepias and relatives)

Habitat: Open areas, foothills, and arid desert settings are the most frequent habitats of the Queen.

Distribution: The Queen is a subtropical species, occurring only
in the southernmost U.S. In southern California, they are relatively
common in foothill and arid regions of San Diego, Imperial and
Riverside counties; in the fall, occasional strays may be seen along
the coast from Santa Barbara south to San Diego.

Other: Queens and Monarchs are known as the "milkweed
butterflies" and both larvae and adults carry toxins from these plants
in their bodies, making them distasteful to predators. The Viceroy is a
well-known Monarch mimic, profiting from predators learning to avoid
its coloration. However, it is less well-known that populations of the
Viceroy in the southwestern U.S. mimic the Queen instead.

Phyciodes mylitta - Crescent Mylitta

upperside

underside

Size: wingspread 1-1.5 in.

Recognition: Characteristic pointed nose (snout), and black and
white striped antennae with orange clubs; upperside is orange with
black lines and spots, creating a band pattern; females have a lighter
yellow- orange band through mid-wing; underside FW is orange and HW is
brownish orange with occasional white markings.

Flight period: March to September.

Hostplants: Thistles, such as Cirsium, Cardus,and Silybium species (Asteraceae) are used as hostplants for larvae of this Crescent.

Habitat: Wet and moist habitats in fields and open areas of mountains and foothills. Adults nectar frequently.